Six months on and ready to move on ...
It has been about five months since my last update and six months since I had my treatment. I have mainly been working on my recovery and resuming my life. Of course, this did not happen without the necessary 'ups and downs'. I was already told in advance that the first year can be quite a roller coaster, so fortunately I was prepared for this.
In the last update, I informed you about all the inconveniences and limitations I had to deal with as a result of the MS, and what the status of those symptoms were at the time. Back then, I indicated that it was still too early to be able to say anything with certainty and this became apparent a few weeks later. Many of the symptoms returned, although fortunately it was all slightly less severe than before the procedure. This was of course very shocking and also caused some doubts. The first thing you think about is whether the treatment has not worked and whether everything will be just as bad as before... After some searching on the various forums about this treatment where many other people who have also had this treatment done are active, I was happy to find a lot about this. After all, almost everyone who has had this treatment has to deal with this.
The symptoms that became more apparent again were a sign that all of the medication I was given for a month was starting to wear off and leaving my body. Let's not forget that I was also given corticosteroids multiple times a day during the treatment. After reading a little more about this, it became clear that the symptoms would be more present in the coming period, and that these symptoms should slowly fade away again about 5 to 6 months after the treatment. Fortunately, this was indeed the case! In fact, about 4 months after the treatment I started to notice improvement already. Considering these fluctuations, I thought it might be better to wait a bit with the next update, until there was more certainty about the state of things.
So… now we are here… Six months after the operation and many steps forward again. In the past two months, the symptoms have subsided considerably and I can say with confidence that I practically have no more dizzy spells, I stand quite firmly on my feet and my balance is quite good again. Every now and then I still have some slight issues with my vision, but it great most of the time. Also, I still don't have any issues with double vision! I think we can say that the treatment has been successful!
MRI
Six months after my surgery, an MRI was made to get some more insight into the current status and to see whether there are signs of disease activity. Although this can be quite an exciting moment, I was confident that it would produce a good result… and this is certainly the case! During the conversation with the neurologist, it became clear that the results could hardly have been more positive:
- The existing lesions (damage spots) showed no disease activity;
- There are no new lesions found, and;
- A number of the existing lesions in my neck have even shrunk a bit!
A great result that I am of course very happy with! Of course this does not necessarily have to be the end point. Usually most improvement occurs in the first year, so who knows what is still possible!
Really able to resume life
Although the recovery has had with some ups and downs, overall this was in an upward trend, which is very nice. Not only to keep my hopes up and for the (physical) discomforts that are slowly but surely diminishing, but also for my self-image and self-confidence. Instead of noticing that little by little you can do less and have to let more things pass you by, you keep discovering and trying more things again and actually notice that you are able to do more things again and feel good for most of the time! All this has also led to the fact that I have wanted (and dared to) open myself up a bit more towards others again and met an amazing girl. She went through everything with me on the way back up after the set-back (from the medication wearing off) and has therefore also seen how this treatment has resulted in a constant improvement of my situation. I can only say that this treatment has done more for me than I could ever dreamed of! Lastly, I have now also started reintegration at work.
It has been a major help to have been able to stay at my dad's place for the past months in order to focus on my rehabilitation. Not having to worry about cooking and being provided with a sanitised surrounding gave me the comfort of taking plenty of rest in order for my body to recover and also to only have to worry about working to build my strength back up by doing exercises and taking daily walks together with my father. All of this has helped me get ready to take control of my own life again, which is amazing to be able to do again!
This will not be my last update, but the updates will be limited to major developments. My next MRI is planned in six months. I will certainly share the results with you.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone one last time for all their support, financial or otherwise… None of this would have been possible without you!
- Stephan
Great that you are doing so well. You had to do a lot for that. Top
❤
Hi Stephan, gosh, how nice this is to read that you are doing so well and I am so glad that you left on time for this treatment.
Thank you very much for your new update, big hug from us.
Greetings Henk and Lenie Bezuijen
Thank you very much!
Dear Stephan,
you were certainly not my favorite boy next door at the time: quite closed and not very forthcoming.
Yet I have decided to support you: after all, people are changeable.
Fortunately, your health is going a bit in the positive direction.
Hopefully this experience will help you to be more accommodating and you can help others to have a more pleasant and positive life in life ...
Be well, have fun!!
Lex N4
And not with the slightest contribution, for which I am of course very grateful. If I need not have clearly thanked you for this, then I will! I will take your words to heart!
❤❤❤❤istry's eyekerkerkeykeyickoniconickeyetickeyagon key keyababor cut
So wonderful to read, although of course we experienced it up close! We are SOOO happy and grateful! Love you!
ON to a fantastic future!
❤
great guy!
Happy for you and everyone dear to you.
Also very nice for people who are in the same situation and are thinking about whether or not they will take that heavy path to recovery.
Lots of s6 with your further rehabilitation.
Your positive attitude will certainly benefit it.
Thank you Marjan, I am confident that it will be all right!
On the right track, friend! Hold on and good luck with the next steps to even more improvement!
Thank you Gerrit, and of course for everything during this entire process!
Hi Stephan, Reading your update put a smile on
my face. So happy to hear of your improved
progress. Wishing you more strength with each
coming day. I know you've got what it takes to get
through this !! Success !!
Thank you Joanna!
CONGRATULATIONS Stephan. It's nice to read that you are doing well again and that you have your life back on track.
Ria (N52)
CONGRATULATIONS Stephan. It's nice to read that you are doing well again and that you have your life back on track.
N52